COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

Kingscliff High School

Kingscliff Public School Cudgen Public School

Pottsville Beach Public School

Bogangar Public School Fingal Head Public School

Duranbah Public School

NewsletterTERM 4, 2016

GREAT5

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

T5 GREAT5The final enrichment day for the T5 GREAT5 Gifted and Talented initiative was an outstanding success! Kingscliff High School was a hub of excitement on Tuesday 25 October when select Stage 3 and 4 students from across the Tweed Region engaged in an Engineering challenge that involved the use of hydraulics to create simple machines.

Students began the day learning about mechanical advantage and velocity ratios in preparation for an En-gineering Design Challenge. The challenge involved students using the Design Process to design and create a simple machine (model) that used hydraulics to perform specific tasks including lifting a boat from the water, opening a bridge and lifting a level platform. Syringes were used as hydraulics to lift, turn and push the designs.

Feedback from the participating students reinforced the importance of developing opportunities such as this. When asked what students learned from the enrichment day they responded with “Engineering is fun!” and “How to use hydraulics” as well as “Anything is possible”. Students were also questioned if they felt more inspired to participate in engineering challenges after being a part of the enrichment day, with more than 84% of stu-dents suggesting yes, they would.

A big thankyou to the Kingscliff High Technology Teachers Mr Connelly, Mr Jennar, Mr Sheriff and Mr Cooke who helped organise the day as well as a special thanks also to the Year 10 Engineering class who mentored the junior students

Karina AppoT5 Coordinator for Gifted and Talented Programs

MATT ABOOD

• Class of 2005 Kingscliff High• Pottsville Beach Primary School I’m currently living in Sydney, I spent the past 12 Months in a combina-tion of living in Sydney and overseas, I had a stint in Tokyo, Copenhagen and then Alabama in America before we went into Rio. That is where my story kind of finished up. What led to that part is something else… I finished school in 2005 at the time I was swimming, hadn’t really applied myself to my school work because I was all swimming! Not long after I fin-ished school I decided to give swimming away, I worked instead, had fun with my friends and partied. After around two years I realised that I had made a bit of a mistake by taking that path, nonetheless I learnt some valu-able lessons and gained a different perspective on life. In 2007 I decided to jump back in the pool, re-do my HSC (ATAR) and see what happened from there. I wanted to swim and I wanted to have the choice to go to University one day (my previous HSC mark wouldn’t have allowed that). So back to school it was and back to the water to get fit, really to see what I could do. What came next was what I thought I could do, but actually seeing it come to fruition was something else!! Fast forward two more years, through lots of hard work and also fun, I’d at-tained a better score for my HSC, and moved to Sydney to pursue my swim-ming dream. I was just chasing, chasing faster times in the pool chasing better ways to do things and taking every opportunity I could to learn and work as hard as I possibly could to achieve my dream of representing my country. This landed me on my first Australian Swimming Team in 2009 and since then I have enjoyed representing our country in the pool, attended an Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, six world Championships and made many, many new friends and some amazing memories. If you take it as a snapshot, in a little over two years I went from no swimming at all to having the opportunity to live my dream of being an Australian Swim team representative. I think it is a great example of what anyone can achieve given they make the right choices.

Post the Olympic Games I am now back in Sydney, living with my wife who I went to school with at Kingscliff High and working for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Favourite memories from Kingscliff High were for sure the daily recess and lunch handball tournaments we had around near the P.E Staffrooms.

Favourite memories from Pottsville Beach Primary School would have to be travelling with the soccer team to compete against the other schools in the area. Keep at it!Matt

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

Cudgen, an Aboriginal word meaning “red soil” is a rich volcanic plateau situated in the Tweed River Valley between Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads. This area of the Tweed Valley was once the home of both the Coodjinburra Tribe and the Minjangbah people. In the early 19th century the “big Cudgen scrub “containing valuable red cedar and other softwoods like black bean, beech and teak, lured the first timber cutters who were the true pioneers of the district. In the area, many crops are still being grown like sugarcane, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, corn and other small crops. Cudgen Public School opened in 1882 – 134 years ago. On its first day, four boys and five girls attended. Four weeks later, 21 students were enrolled. The first teacher was Mr McPhee. In 1918 the school had 70 students enrolled, and in January 1957, 234 students were enrolled. But then in July 1957, Kingscliff Public School opened and enrolment dropped to 141. The enrolment is currently around 200, with many families choosing Cudgen for the specialist care and support the students receive at the school.Sport has always been a well-known strength of Cudgen Primary School. During the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, students excelled in Netball, Softball, Cricket, Football, Athletics and Hockey. Currently NRL, swimming and athletics are areas of outstanding achievement.Part of the 1970s-modern school construction project was the erection of a cenotaph to include marble shields inscribed with the Cudgen Veterans of the Great War. The cenotaph was built with bricks of the original school building at the front entrance to the school. It has become an integral part of Cudgen’s Anzac Day Dawn Service. The marble shields once stood in the old Cudgen Hall, long ago demolished. In 1990, a memorial was built for the men who died in World War I and World War II. Pine trees lining Collier Street hold plaques inscribed with each mans’ name. Reverend Oliver wrote a poem about these trees entitled:

And Pine Trees Grow in Cudgen Village‘Pine Trees grow in Cudgen Village,

Stark sentinels against the line of sky and sea;Besieged garrison amidst the cane.

The cane that murmurs peace and is not warlike.So, these sentinels stand on Cudgen Heights,Each a reminder of the life once spent for us-

On moonlight nights, they crucify the silver light-And whisper to us softly of the days that were.’

CUDGEN PUBLIC SCHOOL - ONCE UPON A TIME...

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

We look outside our classroom at the gorgeous view of Mount Warning, the giant dormant volcano on one side and the whales playing in the Pacific Ocean on the other. We have a great big oval for the whole school to run and play on at lunch time and recess. Our sport shed lets kids play with many sports items such as footballs, soccer balls, hula hoops, skipping ropes, softball equipment, cricket sets and much more. We have lots of facilities including a canteen and a hall. On the last day of term we have a treat day. We either have a sports day if it sunny or a movie day if it’s raining. On the last day of the year we usually go to Banora Pools for a day of fun and swimming. We hold many sports days and carnivals for various reasons like Cross Country, Athletics, Swimming, Rugby League, Softball and so many more sports. We have representatives go all over NSW competing in these events.

“All the students here are really friendly”. Leilani, Year 6.

“I love Cudgen because it has a stunningly beautiful location.” Jett, Year 6.

“It’s a really fun place to be and everyone is nice.” Isabelle, Year 6.

“I love Cudgen because it is a small school with a great community.” Blake, Year 6.

“We have great views and can see Mt Warning and lots of farms, it’s a great environment to be in”. Zara, Yr 6

“I love Cudgen because it is a great school with an intriguing history.” Tom, Year 6.

We love all Cudgen and after reading this we hope you do too!

School Captains from left – Sophie Mason (Vice- Captain), Zara Evison, (Captain), Harris Brooker (Captain), Byron Newell (Vice-Captain).

WHY WE LOVE CUDGEN ! By Sophie Mason

YEAR 7 2017

My name is Karen Levi and I am looking forward to my role as Year 7 Adviser at Kingscliff High School starting 2017. I have been a staff member at Kingscliff High School since 1999 and teach in Creative and Performing Arts. I am passionate about students feeling happy and connected at school and have encouraged our new Year 7 students to think about trying a new activity or being part of a school group eg. SRC, Leo’s Club, Sporting Team or Band.

On Tuesday 6 December all six Coastal Learning Community Year 6 students came together for the first time at Kingscliff High School. This day is one of great importance as students familiarise themselves with staff and the school setting in preparation for starting high school in 2017. Over 200 students were present and participated in activities led by Year 10 student mentors.

Students began to explore their new school surroundings and were very excited about the great selection of new subjects they would be exploring in Year 7. Mentors led “Getting to Know You” activities as students learnt of their new classes and met new friends for this exciting year ahead.

Many primary school students are overwhelmed at the size of high school and have lots of questions about what lies ahead. Orientation Day is extremely important to help ease these anxieties and arm them with the knowledge they need to start this new chapter in life. We wish all our new students a very happy and safe holiday and we are looking forward to a great start in 2017.

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

On the 22 of November the Coastal Learning Community came together to give Year 5 students a ‘taste’ of the high school experience on offer at Kingscliff High School. Year 5 students from Fingal Head, Cudgen, Bogangar, Kingscliff and Pottsville Beach Primary schools joined as a cohort in the hall at KHS for their first glimpse of what entering high school will be like. Students met Transition Coordinator Mr Wayde Smith and Year 7 2018 Adviser, Miss Rebecca Robson before being mixed into groups for a tour of their future high school. Students were able to explore the specialist teaching areas on offer at KHS, with many students excited about the learning they will engage with in these spaces.

After the tour students enjoyed recess together before learning about the PBL system and Kingscliff High School’s core values, they then applied these in a game situation to ‘gotchas’. These games not only allowed students to experience and apply the STAR values they will develop when they attend KHS, but also gave them an opportunity to meet and interact with their peers from across the coastal learning community.

Year 5 students were then split into several groups to experience a range of different ‘taster’ learning experiences. Students were engaged in mini archaeological digs and explored medieval weapons with the History staff. They learned about tectonic plates and volcanoes with the Geography staff, making a model village and predicting how much would survive when the model volcano erupted while others participated in IT lessons. Other groups participated in CAPA lessons, in Music rooms exploring a range of instruments and activities with the Music staff, making pottery with the Art staff and enjoying a Dance lesson with the Dance staff in the air-conditioned Dance Studio. Students followed the procedures of scientific experimentation in practical science experiments with our Science staff and participated in practical PDHPE lessons as if they were already high school students. Other groups explored the agriculture facilities, collecting eggs, learning about farming and fisheries as well as Agricultural Studies. Students also engaged in hands on Food Technology lessons.

By the end of these fantastic lessons, students had formed new friendships and had continued to accumulate ‘gotchas’ for demonstrating KHS STAR values, going into the draw for a number of prizes.

All students had a fantastic time, with some wishing they could “skip Year 6 and come here instead”. Special thanks to Mr Smith and all the amazing KHS staff who donated their free periods to share these learning experiences with our 2018 cohort. Thankyou also to all the staff from across the Coastal Learning Community staff that accompanied students on the day.

The Coastal Learning Community will continue to come together in 2017 as we prepare these amazing young students for their entry to Kingscliff High School.

YEAR 5 GET A TASTE OF LIFE AT KINGSCLIFF HIGH

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

Year 5 and 6 Aboriginal students, along with selected Aboriginal student mentors from Kingscliff High School, participated in various cultural and leadership activities throughout this year as a part of the Coastal Learning Community’s Yuli Coastal Culture Program. Some of these activities included learning about local Aboriginal culture (including dance, bush tucker and stories) with local group Banaam, performing at the opening ceremony of the Juraki surf contest and a cultural exchange activity with the Maori speaking Kura Kaupapa School from New Zealand, where both groups had the opportunity to share elements of their culture.

The Yuli Coastal Culture Program culminated with a presentation night on Wednesday 23 November at Kingscliff High School. The presentation night celebrated the achievements of students in the Yuli Coastal Culture Program. Students performed for family friends two dances that were taught to them by Banaam, enjoyed a video presentation showing highlights from the year’s activities and received participation certificates acknowledging their involvement in the program.”

YULI - COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY